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Miguelito Loveless

(5,751 posts)

9. I have never encountered "diva" as a gay slur

Mon Mar 30, 2026, 08:46 AM

Yesterday

Diva (/ˈdiːvə/, Italian: [ˈdiːva]), the Latin word for a goddess, has often been used as an honorific to refer to a celebrated woman of outstanding talent in the world of opera, theatre, cinema, fashion and popular music. If referring to an actress, the meaning of diva is closely related to that of prima donna. Diva can also refer to a person, especially one in show business, with a reputation for being temperamental or demanding. The application of the term has broadened beyond the performing arts to also include celebrated political and business leaders.

In American English I have always heard it used pejoratively as describing a person who is a pain in the ass to work with, a self-important person who believes they are the to be treated as almost royalty.

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JohnnyRingo Borchkins Bengus81 George II SCantiGOP dave99 Doodley

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Highlight:

Lindsey Graham takes grilling after being spotted at Disney World amid shutdown [View all] BumRushDaShow Yesterday OP

Newsom is developing a pattern TommyT139 Yesterday #1

How is calling Graham a "diva" homophobic? Irish_Dem Yesterday #2

Say what you want, of course. TommyT139 Yesterday #5

It's a term meant for a woman, not a man Polybius Yesterday #25

It's misgendering. That's how. iemanja 4 hrs ago #32

I have never encountered "diva" as a gay slur Miguelito Loveless Yesterday #9

There you go! "Goddess" ... it's mis-gendering him and using it to denigrate him. QueerDuck Yesterday #12

You went straight to the original meaning from the Italian Miguelito Loveless Yesterday #14

When such great care is taken to split hairs to justify misgendering ... QueerDuck Yesterday #16

IIRC - Mohammed Ali used the term "niggardly" on the Dick Cavett Show just to bring up a point. rubbersole Yesterday #18

Do you want everyone to be nice to Lindsay Graham. He has been the greatest advocate of this war. Let's not offend him Doodley Yesterday #28

One can oppose a war hawk without using bigoted language... QueerDuck 16 hrs ago #31

If we look at some dictionary definitions of the word diva, we will see it is in use as a gender neutral Doodley 3 hrs ago #35

It's not about Lindsay Graham iemanja 4 hrs ago #33

Explain how using words in the way described in dictionaries is bigotry? Doodley 3 hrs ago #37

It's misgendering iemanja 3 hrs ago #39

No, it's not misgendering, based on the dictionary examples in the post you are replying too. It can be a gender-neutral Doodley 3 hrs ago #40

Maybe he should have just posted a sternly worded message?!?! Bengus81 Yesterday #11

Sorry. I'm not buying the microaggession argument johnnyplankton Yesterday #17

isn't there a rule around about sit flinging? SalamanderSleeps Yesterday #26

Newsom is attacking a war mongering, Trump stooge. You seem to be attacking Newsom. Doodley Yesterday #27

Good for Governor Newsom, Graham is a bit of a Diva as far as I can tell. wcmagumba Yesterday #3

Collecting his payoff. twodogsbarking Yesterday #4

"Why is an old man with no kids going to Disney?" Ray Bruns Yesterday #6

searching poozwah Yesterday #7

There are many people who go to Disney World without kids LetMyPeopleVote Yesterday #13

There's some context others see here that you may be missing SpankMe Yesterday #15

There are many persons without children who enjoy Disney. LetMyPeopleVote Yesterday #22

With respect, it's not my own characterization SpankMe Yesterday #24

The difference is Graham is a creep. Would you trust him with your kids? Doodley Yesterday #29

Who cares? iemanja 4 hrs ago #34

He eggs on Trump to go to war. American servicemen are killed. Schoolgirls are killed or maimed. We are on the brink of Doodley 3 hrs ago #36

Which has nothing to do with his going to Disney. iemanja 3 hrs ago #38

Graham's excuse sounds about as believeable as the one given by Cancun Cruz a few years back rpannier Yesterday #8

I would like to see him grilled, like a hamberder, well done. twodogsbarking Yesterday #10

Disney Ad Campaign Parody 2na fisherman Yesterday #19

He's eating at a restaurant called Chef Mickey's chernabogg Yesterday #20

He is a disgrace to mankind. Just like his hero. nt City Lights Yesterday #21

WTF! Buddyzbuddy Yesterday #23

When you're telling your constituents to send their sons & daughters to fight in Iran dflprincess Yesterday #30